An interim president will be named in the “near term,” said Commerce spokeswoman Giselle Mahoney.
A cardiologist by background, and previously the president of Genesis MedTech Intervention, Turco was appointed by the Life Science Hub in January 2025 to helm the agency that was on a mission of catalyzing Rhode Island’s life sciences industry. At the time, lawmakers committed $45 million into the Hub over three years as a vehicle to pour capital into companies, help develop talent and grow the life sciences in the state to compete with regional entities with similar mandates.
In a statement, Turco said the agency worked to “build meaningful partnerships and do the groundwork needed for sustained growth in the life sciences sector.”
The Hub, he said, is “well positioned for its next chapter, with strong organizational momentum,” said Turco.
The Hub has faced several challenges since its official launch in 2023, including a rotating cast of leaders. In July 2025, Neil D. Steinberg, who came out of retirement to chair the Hub, stepped down from the high-profile post after less than two years in the role.
The longtime president and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation told the Globe at the time that his decision was personal: “There’s nothing nefarious about this, this is just me personally, wanting more time.”
Throughout Turco’s tenure, he has also had to juggle external pressures, including the Trump administration’s cuts to research grants.
In its earliest days, in 2024, Dr. Patrice Milos had served as the Hub’s interim president. She was the founding member of RI Bio, and was tapped to manage the Hub’s daily operations and establish grant programs.
It’s unclear if the Hub, or Commerce, will conduct an executive search for its next leader.
Alexa Gagosz can be reached at alexa.gagosz@globe.com. Follow her @alexagagosz and on Instagram @AlexaGagosz.